Some buried treasure is an environment assessment away from the development of a new mine in Canal Flats. CertainTeed Gypsum Canada Inc.’s proposed mine has begun evaluating whether or not Canal Flats will suit their project.
“We’re happy to be part of the regional community,” said Amy Lee, CertainTeed Gypsum’s manager of marketing communications. “We’re following the formal process in order to meet or exceed all of the requirements, and we look forward to a positive result.”Ms. Lee says the proper documentation has been submitted by CertainTeed Gypsum as required by the Environmental Assessment Act, and more will be called for in the future.“It’s a thorough process – it’s still very early,” she said.Asked about CertainTeed Gypsum’s growth in the valley, Ms. Lee explained that this mine proposal is not an expansion, but rather to secure supply for the future as the current Windermere reserves plan will eventually be depleted.“The way the mining process works is that we develop our mining plan to make sure we’re following all the requirements, meeting all the needs, and really thinking about the environment itself,” she explained. “We plan things out many years in advance.”She says that while the company is aiming to achieve environmental approval, CertainTeed Gypsum also ensures that the right type of gypsum is available for their product at the proposed site.“We’re looking to the next step of where we need to be from a mining standpoint. This is part of our long-term planning process, as well as working with all the different groups and agencies that need to be involved. And that’s why it’s a long process – it’s several years out.”If approved, the project would comprise of a gypsum mine near Canal Flats which would produce an estimated average rate of 400,000 tonnes of the mineral each annum for 38-years, according to a press release from the Executive Project Director at B.C. Environmental Assessment Office Karen Christie.
If approved, Certainteed Gypsum Canada’s proposed project would comprise of a gypsum mine in Canal Flats which would produce an estimated average rate of 400,000 tonnes of the mineral each year over a mine life of 38 years.
“It’s quite a long process – it’s still really, really early,” said Amy Lee, Certainteed Gypsusm’s manager of marketing communications “We’re following the formal process in order to meet or exceed all of the requirements, and we look forward to a positive result.”
Ms. Lee says the proper documentation has been submitted by Certainteed Gypsusm as required by the provincial Environmental Assessment Act, and more will be called for in the future.
“We’re looking to the next step of where we need to be from a mining standpoint,” said Ms. Lee. “This is part of our long-term planning process, as well as working with all the different groups and agencies that need to be involved. And that’s why it’s a really long process; it’s several years out.”
Asked about Certainteed Gypsum’s growth in the valley, Ms. Lee explained that the business isn’t necessarily expanding.
“The way the mining process works is that we develop our mining plan to make sure that we’re following all the requirements; meeting all the needs, and really thinking about the environment itself,” she explained. “We plan things out ten or fifteen years in advance.”
She says that while the company is aiming to achieve environmental approval, Certainteed Gypsum must also ensure that the right type of gypsum is available for their product at the proposed Canal Flats site.